Changelog

What’s new in Nearfield.

1. November 5, 2026

   Nearfield 0.2.6

   • Includes audio driver 1.3.1. Disconnecting the Studio Displays could hang the Mac's audio system: sound stopped everywhere, and Safari and other apps that use audio stopped loading until the Mac was restarted. The driver no longer waits on the audio system while it is busy, so this can't happen.
   • New Character setting in Settings → Sound. Studio Displays add more bass the quieter they play; Character keeps that tuning (Studio Display, the default) or removes some of it (Warm, Balanced), up to Neutral, which keeps the balance the displays have at full volume at every volume.
   • Character follows each display's volume and changes smoothly, without clicks.
   • The animated header in Settings and setup is now drawn on the graphics processor and uses a fraction of the CPU it did. It stops whenever its window can't be seen, including after displays are connected or disconnected.
   • The Settings and setup window now uses the standard macOS window background, so it takes on your wallpaper's tint like System Settings instead of a flat gray.
   • The Settings footer now shows the audio driver version next to the app version.
2. October 26, 2026

   Nearfield 0.2.4

   • Includes audio driver 1.2.0. Nearfield now uses the Studio Displays' own volume curve, so it plays as loud as a single display at the same volume; earlier drivers played up to 16 dB quieter.
   • The displays keep their full bass at lower volumes: their own volume now follows Nearfield's instead of staying at maximum, so their built-in bass compensation works as it does on a single display.
   • Updating the driver keeps your current loudness; the volume slider moves to match the new curve.
   • While Nearfield is active, an app playing directly on a Studio Display follows Nearfield's volume.
3. October 1, 2026

   Nearfield 0.2.3

   • Includes audio driver 1.1.0 with a rebuilt audio path: volume, balance, and app route changes fade smoothly, and Nearfield reports its output latency to macOS.
   • Fixed brief dropouts during playback: two-hour tests at 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz played without one.
   • Sound follows a routed window to the other display within two seconds, and right away when playback starts, an app comes to the front, or the Space changes.
   • Select Nearfield automatically when a second Studio Display connects and its audio route is ready, with one recovery for apps still playing on the previous output. Manual output choices are respected.
   • Hide the Nearfield output when fewer than two Studio Displays are connected, even while the app is not running.
   • When the displays disconnect, return sound to the previous output or the built-in speakers.
   • Never make an app playing directly on a Studio Display louder when Nearfield takes over; the display's volume changes once that app stops.
   • Settings uses the current macOS look again, and displays can be dragged to rearrange them.
   • Nearfield now requires a Mac with Apple silicon.
4. September 21, 2026

   Nearfield 0.1.39

   • Kept Safari audio on its original display when another window opens or moves to a different display.
   • Added audio driver update prompts so existing installations receive fixes for audio going silent when another Safari window closes.
   • Automatically select Nearfield as the sound output when a second Studio Display connects, while respecting manual output changes afterward.
5. September 7, 2026

   Nearfield 0.1.38

   • Fixed audio cutting out when another app starts or stops playback.
   • Preserved stereo balance when raising volume from zero and kept volume steady when reassigning displays.
   • Reduced work during app routing updates and improved driver removal error reporting.
6. August 10, 2026

   Nearfield 0.1.37

   • Added a visual display arrangement and support for three Studio Displays.
   • Improved speaker setting restoration when displays disconnect and reconnect.
   • Fixed Identify playback volume and improved Core Audio recovery and driver removal.
7. August 6, 2026

   Nearfield 0.1.36

   • Fixed a startup failure caused by missing resources in the packaged app.
   • Improved validation of bundled icons and resources before release.